Microbiota, Enteric Nervous and Immune Systems: Barrier Defenses against Foodborne Pathogens Carriage in Poultry

Valentina Caputi Targeting Microbiota 2023Dr. Valentina Caputi, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, USA, will join Targeting Microbiota 2023 on October 17-19 to present her latest research "Microbiota, Enteric Nervous and Immune Systems: Barrier Defenses against Foodborne Pathogens Carriage in Poultry".

The gastrointestinal tract is the largest body surface in contact with commensal microorganisms (or microbiota) and with pathogens, therefore the intestinal wall possesses a sophisticated system of barriers that protects the host from the translocation of pathogens, their molecular profiles, or environmental toxins in extra-intestinal tissues. The intestinal epithelium provides the first barrier defense against bacterial- or toxins translocation and its function is finely modulated by the immune system. Several studies have explored avian intestinal epithelial barrier alterations following Salmonella or Campylobacter infection. Submucosa and smooth muscle layers are located underneath the intestinal epithelium. These tissues are densely innervated by the enteric nervous system (ENS), a complex network of neurons and glial cells capable of functioning independently from the brain. The ENS is the principal coordinator of gut motility, peristalsis, nutrient absorption, and fluid secretion.

However, recent studies have shown that enteric neuronal populations are responsible for producing proinflammatory cytokines, thus stimulating the intestinal immune cells to release antimicrobial peptides against Salmonella infection in mammals. These results provide evidence of solid neuroimmune interactions in the gut that strengthen the canonical epithelial barrier against pathogenic infections such as Salmonella. The role of enteric neuroimmune interactions in chicken broilers affected by Salmonella or other foodborne pathogens has not been explored yet, and this research will provide a novel approach to understanding foodborne pathogens infection in poultry and ultimately formulate antibiotic alternatives aimed at preserving the integrity and function of the intestinal neuroimmune barriers. 

Join Targeting Microbiota 2023 to learn more about Dr. Caputi's talk. 

You can share your related work by submitting your abstract.

Targeting Microbiota 2023 Congress
October 17-19, 2023 - Venice
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